Switch-heating apparatus



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March 13 M. .L GRIFFITH SWITCH HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 10. 1926 5 Sheets-.Sheet 1 JEWEL-1 En?? March 13, 1928. f 1,662,368

M. J. GRIFFITH SWITCH HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 10. 1.92 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 13, 1928. 1,662,368

M, .1. GReFFlTH SWITCH HEATING APPARATUS Filed May lO, M926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 13, 1928'.

UNITED STATI-:s

y `:MORGAN J. GRIFFITH, oF'cHIcAoo, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-HEATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 10,

This invention relates to a heating apparatus designed for melting the snow and ice that usually gathers in a'ra-ilroad switch.

There are numerous instances where the snow and ice between a track and switch point have prevented the proper` operation of the switch point which has frequently resulted in accidents and loss of life.

It is an object of this invention to prevent such occurrences in the provision of electrical heating means designed to melt the snow and ice'in a railroad switch.

The invention comprises the novel struc ture and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanyingr drawings which 1llustrate certain preferred embodiments of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad switch showing portions of the rails in dotted lines to better illustrate the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional'view upon the line lI-ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a rail road switch illustrating a slightly modified form ofthe invention;

Fig. t is a top plan View of the switch shown in Fig. 3 with the rails shown in dotted lines;` e v Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line V-V of Fig. 4;-

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational viewv of one of the heating conductors with a part of the insulation removed;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View upon the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a railroad switch with the rails shown in dotted lines, illustrating a further modification of the invention with parts omitted;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1() is a top plan view of a railroad switch illustrating a further modification of the invention; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line XI-XI of Fig. 10.

In referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that I have shown a portion of a railroad track comprising the tracks 1 and movable switch points 2 resting upon plates 4 supported upon the cross` ties 3. Beneath each cross plate there is a recess 5 in the 1926. Serial No. 107,913.

tie, which recess is located between the track 1 and switch `point 2. A fiexible metal cable 6 is positioned in the recesses between each rail and its switch point and is connected in series with its adjacent rail. one end of each cable Gis connected to its rail 1 as indicated at 7. i The otherend of each cable projects to one side of the track as indicated at 8 and 9. Each ofthe ends 8 and 9 connects with a coil 10 of a v10W voltage transformer 1-1. lTo complete the circuit in each cable each coil 10,is connected by a conductor to the proper rail. Thus .the coil 10 on the terminal 8 is connected by a wire 12 to the near rail 1; while the coil 10 on thetcrminal 9 on the farside cable is connected by a conductor 13 with the farside rail. w

It will `be noted vthat thecables `6 lie between the rails 1 and the switch points 2 and vconsequently are capable of heating and melting any ice orsnow that may -be lodged therebetween. ,i

In Figs. 3 to 7, there is` shown an insulated heating conductor 1i positioned against the web of the rail 1 and confined by wooden members l'clamped `against the side of the rail. Each-wooden member has a recess or groove 16 for receiving the conduc-` tor. Each conductor 14- is positionedwvithin the limitsof the movable Vswitch points2 and one end of each is connected tothe adjacent rail 1 indicated at 19. The other end of each conductor 14 is connected with a coil 10 of a low voltage transformerV 11. The near rail 1 is connected to the proper To this end, y

coil 10 by a wire 17; while the far rail v1 is connected to the proper coil by a wire 18. Consequently the current `passing through each cable will return through the adjacent rail which is hence in series with the cony ductor. f

In Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown an insu lated cable or heater tube 20 which iskconfined against the web of each rail by a wooden member 21 clamped to the rail. Each wooden member has a groove 22 lined by a sheet of copper 23 for receiving the cable 20. One end of each cable 2O is connected to ground through its adjacent rail 1 as indicated at 24. The other end of each cable 2O beyond the movable switch points 2 lead-s to a source of power. For this purpose, the terminals 20El and 20b are shown.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is `shown a heater tube or cable 2O confined between each llo nr. -c

rail l and its switch point 2 in suitable recesses 5 in the ties, as in the tirst form. These cables 2O are connected at one end to transverse conductors 20d and 20e, respectively which may be part of the saine. Feed wires 26 connect with the heater tubes or cables 20 for supplying the current. The opposite ends of the conductors 2O in Figure l() may be connected to ground or to return to the power line by the terminals L()d and 20. As shown in Figure 11 copper plates 20c may be mounted in the recesses 5 to aid in directing the heat to nielt away snow and ice on the plates -land between the rails and switch points.

It will be appreciated that when snow or ice collects between the rails and switch points, it is only necessary to turn on the current for heating the heatingr tube or Cables for melting the ice or snow. so that the switch points can always be fully operated.

It will be apparent that the niauncr ol' mounting the heater tubes or cables ot' this invention assures the application ot heat in an enicient manner and without undue waste at the desired points.

I am aware that many changes may he made and numerous details` otI construction may be varied through a wide range without departingr from the principles` otI this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a railroad .switch and ties supporting the sanne, of metallic plates engaged between the rails and said ties, recesses laterally traversing said tics underneath said plates, and electric heating means substantially parallel to said rails and disposed in said recesses in close proximity to said plates.

2. The combination with a railroad switch and ties supporting the same, of metallic plates engaged between the rails and said ties, recesses laterally traversing said tics underneath said plates, a flexible metallic casing substantially parallel to said rails and disposed in `said recesses in close proximity to said plates, and electric heating means in said casing.

3. In combination.v a railroad switch including a plurality ofv rails, tics for supporting said switch, each ol said tics having a transverse groove disposed in alignment with the grooves of the adjacent tics, nietallic tie plates on top of said ties under said rails, said grooves being directly below said tie plates and in proximity to ,said rails, and electric means for heating said switch comprising conductors extending from tie to tie and disposed in lsaid Igrooves, said conductors servingr to heat said switch through said plates.

4. In combination, a railroad switch including a plurality ot rails. electricl lneans for heating said switch comprisingr a pair of conductors disposed in proximity to said rails. and a low voltage transformer including primary and secondary windings for supplying energy to said coi'iduetors. cach of said conductors being grounded through the associated rail at one end and havin; r its other end connected to a secondary winding of said transformer. said secondary windings being grounded through said rails to complete the heating circuits.

In testimony whereof I have. hereunto subscribed my name.

MORGAN J. GRIFFITH. 

